CTV BUILDING NOT UP TO STANDARDS?

　　This was the scene when last year's New Zealand earthquake reduced the Canterbury Television building in Christchurch to rubble. One hundred and fifteen people inside the six-storey structure were killed.

　　A report presented on Thursday says the structure wasn't built to required standards. Dr David Hopkins, engineer on the independent panel of experts, said "If the building moves sideways you can see those columns flexing and there's a displacement between one floor and the other.

　　If I twist the model, notice how the centre one diesn't really distort any more but the outside ones do." The panel of experts behind the report said there were three main causes for the building's collapse.

　　Mike Stannard, chief engineer, Department of Building and Housing, said "Firstly ther was the intensity of the ground shaking. Secondly wthere was the lack of ductility, or if you like flexibility, in the columns.

　　And thirdly there was this asymmetrical shear wall layout, the irregularity of the building." The casualties from the CTV building collapse accounted for most of the 185 deaths caused by the 6.3 magnitude quake last February.

(Paul Chapman/ Reuters)

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